Waggin' Tales Pet Blog

Every dog owner knows the joy of having a dog; they give us companionship, love, and care. Dogs are known as man’s (and woman’s) best friend. However, for people who face emotional and physical challenges, the presence of a dog can be significant to their daily life. Dogs offer support and comfort, helping people living with issues that affect their lives, such as mobility, blindness, deafness, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

I am happy to welcome Cody Oelker from US Service Animals.org as a contributor to this week's blog. He reached out to me with the idea of a guest post on Emotional Support Animals, and together we created the post you see here. We hope you enjoy the read, and if you or someone you know would benefit from an Emotional Support Animal, we encourage you to speak to a mental health provider about having such a companion.

Most of us recognize guide dogs which help blind people and service dogs help those with limited or no mobility. Other types of animals assist people who experience emotional trauma. Those can be dogs, cats, rabbits, even guinea pigs, which are also used as therapy animals, visiting schools, libraries, hospitals and nursing homes.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) provide emotional support and comfort to their owner in the form of affection and companionship. Although all dogs are emotionally attached to their owner, to be legally considered as an emotional support animal, the animal needs to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional to a person living with a mental disability. A therapist must examine the person and decide that the presence of an Emotional Support Animal is needed to ease anxiety and help him or her focus on life.

Benefits of an Emotional Support AnimalESAs help ease anxiety, depression, and certain phobias. These special animals provide many mental and emotional benefits to people living with disabilities. They are intelligent creatures that psychologically impact their owners by offering reassurance and companionship. Other benefits of having an Emotional Support Animal in your home include the following:

Provides friendship: To a person living with a mental or emotional disability, an Emotional Support Animal is just like a friend that stays with you during the toughest time in life. They help you cope with the treatment process and accompany you to many places, thereby preventing you from feeling lonely and isolated at any time. However, ESAs are not allowed in all public places like service dogs. Be sure to know where in your community an Emotional Support Animal is welcome. Under the Air Carrier Access Act, ESAs can travel in the cabin of an airline These animals can also serve as companions you can talk too and play around with whenever you feel depressed or sad.

Reduces stress: Spending time with an Emotional Support Animal can help reduce stress, especially for people who are not sociable or those who find it difficult to interact with others. Just like other stress-relieving methods, spending time with your dog or cat releases endorphins, known as the feel-good hormones to the body. These hormones help the body relax and find relief from stress.

Keeps you distracted and uplifts your emotions: People who have mental disability think a lot and have their minds running around at all time. An Emotional Support Animal helps to keep your mind off issues that might be bothering you. They reduce anxiety, help you remain calm, cheerful and optimistic and increase your self-esteem.

Provides motivation: Some days, you might feel zero motivation to get out of bed due to depression, fatigue, pain, or lack of motivation. An ESA can be the motivation you need at that point. They need people to take care of them: feed, exercise, medical attention. Your responsibility can be your lifeline. Dogs can also assist you by doing amazing things; they can be trained to bring your medication, open a door, and awaken you from a nightmare. However, these things usually require specialty training.

Offers unconditional love: Having an Emotional Support Animal can also help people with a mental disability feel loved, which can be difficult to feel. These animals provide a feeling of connectivity and offer devotion and unconditional love to their owners

Gives a sense of purpose: Feeding, caring for, and speaking to an Emotional Support Animal can create a sense of purpose and belonging, and help people with a mental disability adopt a healthier lifestyle.

If you’re experiencing any form of mental or emotional challenges, then you may want to consider an emotional support animal. These four-legged furry companions offer so many benefits to their owners, including helping reduce stress, anxiety, depression; serving as a faithful companion; and giving the owner a sense of purpose while experiencing unconditional love. Talk with your counselor, therapist, or psychologist to learn more about how to obtain an ESA and the benefits you may experience by having one.